ZIP 49302 (Alto, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49302: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Kent County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kent County compares with Michigan
Kent County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kent County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kent County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 29% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 10% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.8% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Kent County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for ZIP 49302: I-96 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49302: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 4,686 crashes involving commercial trucks in Kent County since 2015: 1,048 people were injured and 69 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Road surface: 15.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-96 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 49302 with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-ALDEN Nash Ave (2), Barden Dr Se (1) and CR-36TH St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 116 of the truck crashes here, or 2.5%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (14%).
They recorded 1.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49302 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-96; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Kent County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 4 |
| CR-ALDEN Nash Ave | 2 |
| Barden Dr Se | 1 |
| CR-36TH St | 1 |
| CR-68TH St | 1 |
| CR-CASCADE Rd | 1 |
| CR-PATTERSON Ave | 1 |
| CR-WHITNEYVILLE Ave Se | 1 |
| SR-37 | 1 |
| SR-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kent County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 414 |
| I-96 | 221 |
| N Us 131 | 205 |
| 28Th | 201 |
| S Us 131 | 200 |
| Mile | 163 |
| 44Th | 113 |
| I-196 | 110 |
ZIP 49302 at a glance
| Population | 9,754 |
| Density | 75 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $134,722 |
| Median home value | $397,228 |
| Home ownership | 97% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kent County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 230 | — | 6.9 |
| 2000s | 253 | +10% | 5.5 |
| 2010s | 259 | +2% | 4.9 |
| 2020s | 428 | +65% | 5.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 230 a year in the 1990s and 428 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 6.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49302
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 49302?
Kent County has had 4,686 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,048 people and killing 69.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 49302?
Since 2015, I-96 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49302: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 49302?
January has the most truck crashes in Kent County, 12.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 49302?
Since 2015, Kent County has reported 116 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 49302 compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 58.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kent County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 49302?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.